Chapter 0 - The Legend that the Land Almost Forgot
Once, when the land was young and new, all of its people united by the Crystal Heart and the Tree of Harmony. In this age, there was no borders, no strife and all lived in peace. However, one day, two entities happened to stumble across this world and saw this peaceful world as unfinished and incomplete.
The first, presented itself to the people as a god who would bring light to the world but also order. It gave them the concept of owning and laws in exchange for being worshipped and set the itself as their ruler. Unfortunately, it was a greedy being and set up a kingdom that only benefited himself. It justified its order that it imposed on the land by saying it was for the greater good.
The second, who saw all this order and oppression, felt sad, constricted and ultimately very, very bored of this world. So it gave the people the freedom to choose, bringing creativity and chaos. By doing this it created a son, which it named Discord. It didn't want to rule but rather wanted to true freedom for the world, and its' son would continue it's work when it eventually got bored.
The two entitles met and fought each other to a standstill, which fragmented the world into the continents that make up our world today. The entitles found that their power was too great to fight each other directly, or else they would destroy the world they were fighting over. So each agreed to summon three champions to fight on their behalf. They also raised an army from its people, to fight along side the champions but to also spread their teachings though the land as well. Many of these teachings eventually became corrupt, and freedom fell into anarchy, order became oppression, and yet only one noticed the change, the one called Discord.
The god of order summoned three beings that it considered as worthy of being it's champion. The first was a creature of magic and cunning, a Phantom which "bewitched" all into stone and could plan many dangerous schemes, naming itself Petrifying Intellectual Beauty Mia. Many fell to her schemes and plans which only brought misery to the land. The second was being of red, who made machines of war. While many of its inventions would help the people of this world, many more would hurt and kill instead. The second being called itself Drake, the Technological Terror. The third was a great general, The Gold Hero who transcends all, who fought in the front lines of the God of Order's army, he was loved by all but he also deceived all as well. Those who truly knew his character never lived long to tell the tale of the coward who killed for the "greater good." He was called though legend as the Lancelot, the False Hero. The God of Order would eventually be called by his worshipers as The Great Tyrant God.
On the other hand,The spirit of freedom summoned three being which seemed at random. The first was a criminal who broke all rules for her own gains often using her own feminine wiles to trick and deceive, yet could sabotage any of the Technological Terror's machines with ease. She called herself, the Criminal Seductress who was Heartless. As the legend faded, her name was shorted to Heartless for convenience. The second was a free spirit who loved to fly yet seeded chaos wherever he went, he was a spirit of vengeance yet his carefree attitude and his luck would often derailed many of the Petrifying Intellectual Beauty plans by chance. Many of his crew-mates would call him by the name of Vengeance, King of the Unfriendly Sky. The last of the three was a being as unpredictable as the weather, a creature who often butt heads with the False hero as a Dark God. He was called The Dark God of the Weather, Zek. The once called spirit of freedom would eventually become bored of this world yet could not bring itself to charge his son who it loved to continue its fight against The Great Tyrant God, so it created a similar creature to itself with the cunning and terror to counter The Great Tyrant God, which was named the ever changing Nightmare.
With their army and champions, the two waged a war that could erase the land itself, and many of the planets inhabitant fell and faded from history and legend. As the war between the two raged, Discord sought out peace against his sibling's will. He found a young mare who called herself Faust, the librarian of a small hamlet that was far from the front-lines. The two sought a way to end the fighting peacefully, but it would take them years. During this time, Faust gave birth to two children, a son and a daughter, who she named Foxtrot and Athemis. While Foxtrot would be lost to the history books, Athemis would eventually marry a earth pony by the name of Solaris and would be the mother of Princess Celestia and her sister, Princess Luna. Discord, thinking of the future, gave them some of his divinity to wield and mold. This divinity would change tho but also gave them the power to ascend into something greater than Discord could ever know. At the same time, Faust came across the last of the fairy folk who got corrupted by the nightmare for not joining her side in the war, and begged to take their daughter as one of their own. She agreed and took Shaylee as her daughter. Shaylee is said to be the first Changeling.
As years pass, the war waged on. The three children had grown into capable beings and the family would set out to find the fabled Tree of Harmony that was before the shattering of the continence, was at the center of the world. Along the way, Discord saw the two children he blessed with his divinity become the first Alicorns. The five would eventually come across the Tree of Harmony and begged for a way to save the world.
The Tree responded by telling them," It is impossible."
"Why?!" cried Shaylee," Why is it impossible?! My people lost their lives and their home, and we are not the only ones! The elks who were the wises of the people of the land are now just pages in history! Why can't you help us?!"
"So long as the tyrant, the nightmare and their champions roam the land, the world will not survive. They are beings that are not of this world and thus not within my power to cast out. You must call champions of your own, ones similar to them, and use my gifts to cast the tyrant out and seal the nightmare."
The tree gave the gift known as the Elements of Harmony to the six and it was wield by Athemis, Discord, Faust, Foxtrot, Solaris and Shaylee. However this legend is not about them and how they managed to seal the Nightmare, for the time being or sending The Great Tyrant God back to the void. This is not the legend on how a simple librarian became the queen of a large empire or how her daughters now rule Equestria to this day. This is the legend of the six who fought the Champions of the Tyrant and the Champions of the Nightmare. This is the legend of the Wardens of Tartarus.
* * * * *
Due to the nature of the Champions of the Tyrant and Nightmare, The Tree called for assistance from another source, one which could combat the Champions. However, only one answered the call. A strange being, one who brims with power of magic yet the gentleness of understanding. A creature who bears the mantle of power yet does not seek it. The creature called a Titan of Ether for its worlds approached the Tree, curious of its intentions. It spoke to the Tree in a form of a question, which was....
"So whadaya want?" said the Titan.
("That can't be right? That must be a translation error, I mean seriously to talk to the Tree of Harmony itself-" said a voice off camera.)
("Oi, do YOU have a professorship of Ancient Linguistics and Ancient Myths? No? Then shut it and let me finish translating!!!" shouted the griffin professor who was narrating the translation and pointing out the carvings.)
("Hey! Quit squawking and get going! We are loosing film tape here!" said another voice off camera.)
("Right right. Ahem.")
The Tree was surprised by its forwardness and pleaded its case, which the Titan smacked his face with the palm of his hand-
("Really?! A Facepalm?! OK you must be ab libbing here-")
(the sound of someone getting pounced and then gagged before the speaker continues with a smile of his beak)
-hand before explaining that not many people would make such a trip since most will never return to their homeland. However the Titan promised it would try and find worthy champions from the universes in his care.
The first Champion was a young lad, who grew up with legends of heroes of old and tales of fairies. The lad had found a Otherworld portal to the Sidhe dwellings and had befriended the ancient folk, learning their skills of magic and battle. Soon word spread of the lad to the throne of Finvarra and the Titan's call for Champions had reached Aine, the Queen of Muster's ears. Calling the lad, the Queen told him of a world that needs his kind heart and his skill with the sword. The lad agreed when he understood our world's plight, although he would miss his friends, the ancient folk, but he knew that sometimes other beings need his help. So the First Champion joined the Titan.
The first champion was gifted with the power of the forest, to bend it to his will and create any battleground that will forever be in his favor. Yet he gave sanctuary to many creatures with his power, times where his strength of heart over shown his strength of his blade. His forest stands to this day as the last line of defense for the Castle of the Two Sisters, back when the Castle was the capital of Equestria.
He was known as Fawkes, Lord of the Everfree.
The Second Champion was a lady of the bloody robe. Having spend most of her waking life hunting strange and dangerous beings and monsters that haunt the land and its people. Yet her job was much more gruesome than just killing these beast and demons. She was tasked to kill more than that with her skill with the blade and gun. She was tasked to hunt other hunters who had strayed from the path of light and became beast themselves. When the Doll heard the call, she summoned the lady of the bloody robe to join the battle. She agreed if there were any hunter or huntress who could take up her heavy burden. Many of her students stood up to the challenge and swore on the loyalty that she had shown them that they would never let her down. So the Second Champion joined the Titan.
The Second Champion was given the weapon of light itself, imbued into her soul and washed the blood away. With her gun in one hand and her shortblade in the other, she killed any monster that came in her way while protecting all under her wing. Many of her students were fiercely loyal to their teacher as she had been loyal to them. Many of her teachings had been lost to time but many Griffin Monster Hunters still look up to her legend with awe and remembrance.
She was known as Zavia, The Beast-Demon Huntress.
The Third Champion was a lady healed hearts with her song yet used her mind to heal their bodies. Before war engulfed her world she had used her song and dance to win and heal the hearts of millions and yet it wasn't enough to help those truly in need. When the war was becoming more and more bloody, he sacrificed her career of healing hearts and took up the skills to heal bodies instead. Her generosity to heal all who entered her tent, be they friend or foe alike had made her the target of many criticism. Yet even when she was betrayed she continued her work to help others. One day, she was betrayed by her commanding officer and left for dead, yet it was because of her generous spirit, she was saved by a soul who she had previously help. The soul was of a being of magic within this world and it cried for help. To save her from death before it was her time, the Titan answered. The lady, after being healed wished to continue her work, to heal the heart and soul of any who walk into her tent. The Titan invited her to help our world, one which needed her skills and devotion to he healing arts. She agreed along side with the soul who accompanied her. The soul became her weapon to fight off those who would hurt her, while she could heal those who needed help. So the Third Champion joined the Titan.
The Third Champion was given the power of a star which she trained to help with her healing in the form of water. She continued her practice to heal all who entered under her tent, even if they don't deserve it. Her generous spirit and her ability to heal with both skill and magic became the stuff of legends on the battlefield. Some of our modern medical technics mirror some of her own, although never as effective, and the Zebras still ensure that her legends is still told around the campfire to encourage many of their inspiring healers, even though her true name is forever lost in history.
She was known as Aquarius, The Healing Star.
The Fourth Champion was a child of the wind. A little bird would go where the wind would take her, flying over the sea of endless water as she laughed and joked and loved all those around her, yet each year more of her friend would die to the ocean bellow, be they beast or human. Yet her innocent laughter would help all those who gather around her, and it grew even more when she master her powers over the wind, allowing those who could live in the sky stay safe. Due to her strange power over the wind, the little bird heard the Titan's call for champions. Curious and eager to make a new friend, the little bird called back to the Titan, and was informed of our world's plight. The little bird taught hard, by herself for days, worrying all those who had come to depend on her and her power when she made her decision. The little bird gave up her power to a young human friend of hers to take her place as Princess of the Wind. The young girl declined the power, but after arguing with the little bird, agreed to take her power but only if she kept a copy of it to use in our world. The Little bird agreed and so the Fourth Champion joined the Titan.
The Fourth Champion was given humanoid form and the skill of those who stalk the night. Despite the war that was all around her, her cheerfulness and the ready laughter won the hearts of many of the people. While it is a not known of what she gifted safe for laughter to the people, some speculate that the Pegusi adopted her love of flying.
She was known as Yuuko of the Wind.
The Fifth Champion was a knight who fought against a tyrant prince. The knight was a man who held his shield strong against the many hordes of the undead to protect his family and his sire's kingdom yet to only return to find his home in ruin from the prince whose father he served. He had fought with word at first showing honestly to the people and the nobles of the dangers that currently stood within the walls of the kingdom yet the lies of the prince kept him away from his father's court and constantly fighting against the undead. Yet his honest truths did not fall on deaf ears, the people would rise up against the tyrant prince. Many people fought on the knight's behalf because of the truths he penned. The knight defeated the undead horde but lost to the tyrant prince's machinations and lies. When he returned he found his king he swore to serve, dead. Killed by the hands of his own son, the tyrant prince and the knight's family hung like criminals. The knight used the truth to spark a revolution in which overthrew the tyrant prince but at the cost of the knight's life. As he was to pass on to meet his family, the soul of his sworn king stopped him. He told him of our world which could use a seasoned warrior to save it, which the knight swore to save. He swore not to let our world fall to tyranny and lies like his did. So the Fifth Champion joined the Titan.
The Fifth Champion was gifted with the power over dark fire, which he found poetic to use against liars and deceivers alike. Those he would not punish all who lied, only those who were server in breaking the law with their deceit and taking advantage of the people. During ancient times, many of his acts inspired other heroes to take up arms for the sake of the land and for truth. Some say that his teachings are still reflected in some of the different nations military but there is currently no proof to the subject.
He was known as Warren, The Dark Fire Knight.
The last of the Champions was a bard who had traveled the world yet wanted to see more. The unofficial and rumored daughter to a legendary bard called Tandem the Spoony (And don't ask me who he is, I have no idea since he is a legend form another world and such), the young lady had traveled over the land and fought many creatures. She had faced dark gods, and evil titans, from her fellow man to peering into hell itself, the bard was one who could be a legend in her own right. Yet she was not satisfied in staying on her own world. Having ventured into the City of Doors, she ventured by accident into the Titan's own home. He saw that she could be of use and it would give her an adventure to remember. The Titan asked the bard if she would take on another adventure, one which will go down in legend in the world she would defend. She jumped at the chance, seeing adventure on the horizon. Thus the last Champion had joined the Titan.
The Sixth Champion was not given any power, but was given armor and strange instruments to be able to fight against any evil she would face. The sound and music that came from this strange instruments was capable of stopping arrows in its tracks with just a simple note. Everywhere she would go she would regale tales of heroes of old, both from her world, her own adventurers and the heroes on our world. It is said many ballads might have originated from her, yet this is proven false due to many of her songs and tales are not written down. It is also said that this is the reason why some terms and words we use today originated like the term 'humanoid'. The key point that while the others embodied some form of the Elements of Harmony, she herself gave us something even the other champions did not, for she gave us hope with the stories and ballads she preformed.
(Aurthor Note; due to the size of the image, I'm rerouting it via url.)
He was known as Kalla of the Grand Sound.
The Champion that the Titan had gathered entered our world and was presented to the Tree of Harmony, these Champions tracked down and defeated the Champions of the Tyrant and the Champions of the Nightmare. Each of the journeys are a series of legend of their own. Which only small bits and pieces are still known, other than my research, are not all written down and some only passed down via word of mo-
The film strip breaks off at that moment as the researchers who were watching frown and groaned. One of them walked up to stop the theater camera while another walked towards the front of the meeting room.
"Well, that's that." said the unicorn speaker," Well to finish off Professor Razor Beak's video, each of the legends that still remained all come together in the final act where Tartarus was created. According to his thesis which, at the time, brought his mental health into question, Tartarus is theorized to have multiple layers to it. At the bottom most layer was where the Champions of Harmony became the Wardens of Tartarus and to this day guard the Champions of the Nightmare and the Tyrant."
"That's all well and good," said a peguses who was wearing her signature jungle gear and pit hat," But what are we doing here then? If the Wardens are doing their job, then why have we all been gathered here by the Princesses?"
"The young Doo is right," said a griffin who was heavily scared and armored," What's our purpose here and why have ye been beating around the bush."
"Right, right. Well as you all know, Tartarus is a prison. A underworld built to house the deadliest of criminals back during the Reign of Queen Faust and later expanded by her daughter and son-in-law, Queen Artemis and King Solaris. Nowadays it is unused as it were, save for its current inmates which we know of... such as Tirek. We also know, from Professor Razor Beak research that the Champions of the Tyrant and the Champions of the Nightmare are housed in there as well. But when Tirek escaped, he made it a point to cause some... trouble which we only now can confirm with the help of Discord."
"GET. ON. WITH. IT," threatened the dragon who had shrunk himself down to size for the meeting," My king did not send me, one of his personal elite guard, if it wasn't important."
"Yes. Yes sorry, I'm to used of lecturing in front of student... ahem. The so called Champion which during legends had become known as the Otherworld Villains have in fact, escaped and gone into hiding."
The room then became dead silent, some of the non-combatants broke out in cold sweat but most of the "celebrities" as it were all shouted one word.
"WHAT?????!!!!!"
"Ow, my eardrums. That's going to ring for a good while. Er yes. Although, our job isn't to capture them. Tirek at the time, had managed to free the Otherworld Villains but had triggered some sort of auto system which sealed the lowest layer of Tartarus. Unfortunately, due to things events which transpired before Tirek's escape, the six wardens have gone missing . When Princess Celestia, Princess Luna and Queen Cadance (what she is married and is ruling the Crystal Empire, so she is technicality a Queen.) was thrown into Tartarus, they were informed by one of the guards who were in charge of the upper levels that the wardens had gone missing."
The Minotaur slammed his hands on the table before getting up," So why have your rulers had gone and gathered us all here? To stop the Villains? Or for some other goal?"
"Oh no no no no no," said the unicorn," We aren't going to even attempt to get in the way of these Otherworld Villains, no matter how strong you are, we simply are too weak to face them. Our job is to find what happened to the Wardens and if needed, to free them form whatever is holding them. Assuming that something or another is keeping them captive."
"Well what are we waiting for?!" Shouted Daring Doo," We got some heroes to rescue!"
